Mahindra launches the Scorpio automatic in India

23 September 2008

Pune: Auto maker, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd, (M&M), today launched the Scorpio Automatic in India. The SUV has a fully automatic 6-speed gear box and is powered by a powerful 2.2 litre mHawk engine. According to Mahindra, Scorpio is the first Indian SUV in its class to offer a 6-speed fully automatic transmission.

Other features include in-built intelligent driving modes for an effortless drive and a wide array of smart features, giving the Scorpio an even greater competitive edge in its segment. The Scorpio Automatic will be available in two variants - the VLS and VLX variants,  and is priced from Rs10.2 lakhs onwards, ex-showroom price Pune.

A fully electronically controlled automatic gearbox results in shorter shift times and hence, improved drivability of the SUV. This is a major technological improvement over previous automatics which were hydraulic controlled, said Mahindra. 

The transmission in the Scorpio Automatic is permanently sealed and does not require an oil change throughout its life, which will help reduce maintenance costs. The car also incorporates an adaptive strategy to maintain optimum shift quality through the entire life of the transmission. An inbuilt overheat self-protection strategy and a high self-diagnostic capability are additional benefits.

In addition to eliminating the need for constant gear changes, the Scorpio Automatic allows easy manoeuvrability in heavy traffic, anti roll-back when in 'Drive' mode and also ensures that the engine does not stall.

The SUV has intelligent driving modes such as the user engaged mode and the auto engaged mode that allow the driver to tackle various driving conditions with ease. User engaged modes include the normal mode 'N,' which is used for ordinary driving conditions with optimised fuel management. The winter mode 'W' is for driving on ice and slippery or unstable road conditions. This mode regulates torque at the wheels, maintaining high stability in adverse conditions. The user mode also has the manual / engine brake mode 'M' that selects  the lowest possible gear for a defined vehicle speed, utilising engine braking for better control on steep downhill descents.